Wire stretcher and tightener



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. M. WILSON.

WIRE ,STRETOHER AND TIGHTENER.

No. 568,823. Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

J.. M, WILSON. WIRE STRETGHER AND TIGHTENER.

. Patented Oct. 6,'1896.-

\B'x masses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. -WILSON, OF CONWAY SPRINGS, KANSAS.

WIRE STRETCHER AND Tl'G-HTE'NER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,823, dated October 6, 1896. Application filed January 6, 1896. Serial No. 574,517. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN llZLVVILSON, a citizen of the United States of America,residin g at Conway Springs, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers and Tighteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, and the figures of reference thereon, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved wire stretcher and tightener. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same, showing how it is used for taking up the slack in the wire. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the lever-bar. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the arms, showing how they are joined together. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views showing the stretcher in different positions while stretching the wire, with said stretcher secured to the post by a chain. Fig. 8 is a like view showing the stretcher arms around the post and the chain-hook gripping the wire, with the handle or lever bar pressing against the post. Fig. 9 is a view showing'the stretcher drawing the wire together when broken between posts.

This invention relates to certain improvementS in wire stretchers and tighteners and it consists of a continuous arm adapted to straddle a fence-post pivotally secured to a handle or lever bar which is provided with means for holding a chain and gripping a wire.

The object of this invention is to provide a wire-stretcher of as simple a construction as possible, yet having said stretcher durable and adapted to draw the wire in any way desirable.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a lever-bar.

2 represents arms pivotally secured to said handle or lever bar at 6.

3 represents claw-jaws forming the claw 10.

4 represents hooks for the purpose of holding the chain, as shown in Fig. 6.

5 represents hooks on the under side of said arms for the purpose of engaging the wire when taking up the slack, as shown in Fig. 2.

7 shows how the two arms are joined permanently together.

8 represents a claw on the outer end of the handle or lever bar for the purpose of drawing the staples from the post for loosening the \VllB.

9 represents a slot in the end of the leverbar for allowing the wire to be drawn up in the claw 10 when the lever-bar 1 is in the position shown in Fig. 9.

11 represents a fence-wire.

12 represents a fence-post.

13 represents a hook on the end of the arms 2 for the purpose of engaging the chain 14.

represents a hook secured to the said chain 14 for gripping the wire when used as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

In using this wire stretcher and tightener it is operated as follows: For taking up the slack around the post the leverbar 1 is placed against the post, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, on the opposite side of the post 12 from the wire 11. The arms 2 are then placed over the wire on either side of the post 12, with one of the hooks 5 of said arms 2 engaging said wire 11 while the lever 1 is in an upright position, when the said arm 1 is drawn down, which will draw the wire around the post, as shown in Fig. 2, when said wire 11 is secured by a short wire in the usual way.

For making a slat fence the operation is identical with that of taking out the slack. When it is used to stretch the wire, the chain 14 is placed around the post 12, when the hook 13 of the arms 2 is hooked into said chain, leaving enough of said chain hanging loose, as shown in Fig. 5, to reach the hooks 4. While the lever-arm is in an upright position. the wire 11 is hooked in the claw 10. the leverarm 1 is drawn down, stretching the wire, when the loose end of the chain 14 is hooked over the hooks 4. Whensaid chain is released from the hooks 13, the arm 1 is again raised to an upright position and a new hold is taken in the chain 14 by the hooks 13-closer to the post, as shown in Fig. 6, when the arm 1 is again drawn down to the position shown in Fig. 7. While in said position the lever-arm 1 cannot pass down any farther on account of the connection 7 of said arms 2, and as the claw 10 holds the straining-point of the wire 11 above the point 6, where said lever and arms are journaled, said lever-bar will hold in said position, when the wire 11 can be secured to the post 12. The wire can be stretched in the same way by hooking the hook 15 to the wire 11 and placing the lever-arm 1 against the post 12, as shown in Fig. 8. For drawing the wire together between posts, as shown in Fig. 9, one end of the wire 11 is placed in the claw l0 and the other end of said wire is placed in the hook 15 of the chain l-t. Said chain is hooked to the hook 13 while the lever is in an upright position, when said lever is drawn down, drawing the two ends of said wire together. If it is desired to stretch the wire still further, the loose end of said chain is hooked over said hooks i, and the leverbar is again raised, when the hooks 13 are placed in the chain nearer the hook 15, when said lever 1 is again drawn down.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In the herein-described wire stretcher gether at one end, said arms provided with hooks for engaging the wire, and hooks for engaging the chain, substantially as described.

JOHN M. \VILSON.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK O. CI-IEsNEY, JAMES G. YOUNG. 

